Windows with a lens for an aircraft door

Abstract

A window for an aircraft door includes an outer pane, an inner pane, and a Fresnel lens element provided in the interspace formed between the inner and outer panes. The Fresnel lens element may be a self-supporting lens element pane positioned intermediately within the interspace between the inner and outer panes, or a lens film adhesively bonded onto the surface of the inner pane facing the interspace, or a Fresnel lens configuration provided directly on the surface of the inner pane facing the interspace. The Fresnel lens element provides an expanded field of view, especially in a downward direction, when looking out through the window, to comply with safety regulations that require visual inspection of the area outside of the aircraft door and especially below the door, before opening the door.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIMThis application is based on and claims the priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 of German Patent Application 100 46 568.4, filed on Sep. 19, 2000, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.The invention relates to a multi-pane window for an aircraft door, with an improved field of view from the inside to the outside of the aircraft, and especially in an area below the window, e.g. toward the bottom of the door.BACKGROUND INFORMATIONThe generally known construction of cabin windows in pressurized passenger aircraft is a double pane construction that provides fail-safe properties. A hollow interspace is enclosed between the outer and inner panes of the cabin window, and a ventilation or pressure compensation hole is typically provided near the bottom of the inner window pane in order to achieve a pressure compensation between the cabin interior and the hollow interspace between the window panes during flight, and especially during the climb and de...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This is true also, or especially, for a window that is installed in an aircraft door of the aircraft, and results in a corresponding upward facing tilt of the window in the door.

Due to the above described upward facing tilt of the windows, the field of view out through the window is limited, especially in a downward direction toward the area at the bottom of and below the door, where a stairway, evacuation slide, or the like would be arranged.

Such prior art solutions have not been satisfactory, because they are costly, complicated, and do not provide a satisfactory improvement of the overall field of view.

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